From Jamie’s Desk:
A friend recently asked me: if I could go to any concert today, who would it be? My answer came without hesitation. Before I share mine, think of yours. Ground rules: they need to be actively performing, and you can’t use your connections for VIP or comped tickets. This has to be someone worth seeing—by any means necessary.
As most of you know, I love going to concerts across all genres. The Soul Rebels at Le Bon Temps, Travis Scott at SoFi, Lionel Richie at JazzFest, Boygenius at The Greek, Shania Twain at MSG, and Mumford & Sons at the Hollywood Palladium just to name a few. But one artist still stands apart: Taylor Swift.
I was lucky enough to see the Eras Tour four times—once at SoFi and Wembley, and twice at MetLife. And while I’ve been to more Jay-Z concerts than I can count, nothing compares to Eras. Not just the performance, but the world around it. The bracelet trading, the merch frenzy, the crowd made up of every generation, all buzzing with the same energy.
Taylor’s 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl, dropped last night and yes, I’ve already listened to it on repeat. Right now, the title track and The Fate of Ophelia are my favorites, though I’m sure that’ll evolve with more listens. Add in her one-weekend-only movie release, and you’ve got another cultural phenomenon. Last time, theaters were packed with kids crying, strangers dancing, and everyone singing. It was unforgettable. And yes, I’ll be there this weekend. I can’t wait.
In honor of The Life of a Showgirl, below are a few restaurants in cities that every Swiftie knows are part of Taylor’s world.
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Discussed in this issue: Taylor Swift inspired restaurants, Genghis Cohen reopening, Infatuation’s EEEEEATSCON, an upcoming conversation with Ritchie Torres on 10/21.
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🥡 Genghis Cohen has reopened at 448 N. Fairfax Ave, just a few steps from the original spot. The red booths, fish tank, and iconic dragon all made the move—so the vibe is very much intact. The paper lanterns are there too, but the amount somehow doubled. Most importantly, the iconic NY-Style Egg Rolls and Pork Potstickers are still on the menu, now joined by new dishes like Shrimp Dumplings, Salt and Pepper Pork Chops, and Mapo Tofu. Plus, there’s a revamped 16-drink cocktail menu. Since they’re open until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays, there’s now a late-night menu with Szechuan Chicken Sliders, Deep Fried Szechuan Green Beans, and BBQ Pork Bao Buns. Make your reservations now.
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Photo by Providence
“Whiskey on ice, Sunset and Vine” — Taylor Swift, “Gorgeous”
📍Los Angeles: Providence
Cuisine: Seafood
Crew: Jamie Patricof, Chris Rice, David Nathanson, Andy Wang, James Ponsoldt, Maximilian Shapiro, Ben Hundreds, Marc Rose, Alex Tse, Michelin Guide, NY Times, LA Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Time Out, Goop, Eater, The Infatuation, Bon Appétit, James Beard Award
Good For: Special Occasions
Pro Tip: Make sure not to fill up on extra bread. Have an early drink at the bar—the cocktail program is awesome.
What to Order: Tasting menu, so you can just sit back and let them bring everything.
Notes: There are only 151 restaurants in the world with three Michelin stars—and Providence is one of them, for very good reason. This place is special. I’ve been lucky enough to go a few times, and every single visit has blown me away. The entire evening is orchestrated to perfection, yet somehow it never feels stuffy or inaccessible. You all know my favorite restaurants are usually hole-in-the-wall spots, but Providence is the rare exception.
James Beard Award–winning chef Michael Cimarusti has been honing his craft in the kitchen for over 30 years, while Donato Poto works his magic out front with the kind of hospitality that makes the experience feel effortless. Every bite is extraordinary, but the true showstopper is always the Santa Barbara spot prawns baked in salt.
With three Michelin stars now in hand, it’s only going to be harder to get in, so do yourself a favor and grab a reservation online, no matter how far out. You’ll thank me later.
Photo by Interview Magazine
“Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you” — Taylor Swift, “Welcome to New York”
📍New York: Lucali (reviewed by Jon Buscemi, Industry Insider/Culture Connoisseur/ Crystal Ball Reader)
Cuisine: Pizza
Crew: Andy Wang, Anthony Jacobson, Kate Burr, Rachel Halilej, Marc Rose, The Infatuation, Michelin Guide, Condé Nast Traveler, Goop, Eater
Good For: Date Night, Dinner with Friends, No Reservations, Casual
Pro Tip: Make sure to call the restaurant and ask if you can get the backyard table. It’s like a chef‘s table for eight or more people, and it’s a really great experience. You might even see Chef Mark Iacono.
What to Order: Order the salad. It changes from time to time but try to get the caesar if they have it. Order the regular and pepperoni with onions. Meatballs are a must, and if you are lucky, you can order the off menu ziti with spicy sauce. BYOW/B.
Notes: This, in my opinion, is the best pizza restaurant in New York. The atmosphere is always great and you feel like you’ve gone back in time. If Mark is there, it’s great to have a little chat with him in the front, especially if you like to smoke cigarettes.
Photo by Ben Hundreds
“You know I love a London boy I enjoy walking Soho, drinking in the afternoon” — Taylor Swift, “London Boy”
📍London: Berenjak (reviewed by Ben Hundreds, Owner of The Hundreds; Co-Owner of The Benjamin Hollywood and Bar Benjamin)
Cuisine: Persian
Crew: Jamie Patricof, Andy Wang, Nick Tran, Shu Chowdhury, Iman Dakhil, The Infatuation, Eater, Condé Nast Traveler, Michelin Guide
Good For: Casual, Dinner with Friends, Date Night
Pro Tip: Sit at the bar. You get to talk with the chef, watch them make all the dishes and see the kabobs being cooked over a live fire. It’s quite beautiful.
What to Order: The starters were excellent, but the hummus and mast o musir were some of the best I’ve ever had. The ghormeh sabzi might have been the best I’ve tasted anywhere, and the chenjeh kabob was the undisputed star of the meal. I’ve never had lamb like this before, and I’m not sure I ever will again.
Notes: I’ve been eating Persian food for 45 years. Home-cooked meals from my mom and aunts, dinners at friends’ houses, and restaurants all over the world. It’s my comfort food. For years, people have been telling me about Berenjak in London, insisting I’d love it. So when I planned my trip, the very first reservation I made was at Berenjak. Needless to say, my dinner at Berenjak was hands down the best Persian meal of my life.
Photo by Rolf and Daughters
“Green was the color of the grass, Where I used to read at Centennial Park” — Taylor Swift, “invisible string”
📍Nashville: Rolf and Daughters
Cuisine: New American
Crew: Jamie Patricof, Nick Grad, Marc Rose, Max Chow, Eater, The Infatuation, Goop, Condé Nast Traveler, Bon Appétit, James Beard Award
Good For: Date Night, Business Dinner, Good Drinks, Dinner with Friends, Big Groups
Pro Tip: They are now serving brunch!
What to Order: Sourdough Bread with Seaweed Butter, Agnolotti, Rigatoni, Flounder
Notes: When you’re in a regional city, it’s tempting to only eat the cuisine it’s known for. If you’ve got your heart set on Nashville hot chicken, I get it—but you’d be missing out on so much more. It’s the same in New Orleans: sure, you could stick to Cajun staples, but then you’d miss gems like Saba or Saffron. Nashville has plenty of those “not what you expected” standouts too, and Rolf and Daughters is one of them.
Housed in a converted warehouse, this restaurant has been firing on all cylinders for years. My last meal there was so good, it’s hard not to call it one of the best restaurants in the city. What makes it even better is the versatility: it works for just about any occasion—date night, dinner with your Vanderbilt kid and their friends, or a business meeting. Some places you can’t guarantee will deliver; this one I can. As Matty Matheson put it, “Rolf is just lights out every time.”
And while I’m not much of a drinker, these guys make some great cocktails.
Photo by emilyinnew.york
“Rebekah gave up on the Rhode Island set forever” — Taylor Swift, “the last great american dynasty”
📍Rhode Island: Clarke Cooke House (reviewed by Michaela Sullivan, Chief of Staff at Jamie’s List)
Cuisine: Seafood
Crew: The Infatuation, Goop, New York Times, Food & Wine, Condé Nast Traveler
Good For: Date Night, Dinner with Friends, Great Wine List
Pro Tip: There's always a wait so try to make a reservation online. But if you can't, put your name down and walk around Bannister's Wharf. There are plenty of shops to check out, mega yachts to gawk at, and bars to get a drink at while you wait. I usually go to Diego's or Whiskey Bar right across the alley.
What to Order: Lobster Roll, Thai Style Lobster, Newport Clam Chowder, Oysters, Candy Store Burger, Warm Brussels Caesar, Hamachi Jalapeño, Mango Tango Roll, Filet of King Salmon, and you can't skip their signature dessert, The Snowball in Hell!
Notes: As a kid, I would always complain when my parents brought me here because I found the fact that their bistro was called the Candy Store to be misleading—and I was a picky eater. But as soon as I hit teenage-hood, I realized how lucky I was to have such a historic and delicious spot basically in my backyard. Clarke Cooke House is a quaint bistro in an 18th century building that serves as the center of downtown Newport. The iconic colonial building sits on the wharf, with its equally iconic mermaid signage, and attracts both tourists and locals. The seafood, like most places in Rhode Island, is fresh and delicious, but their signature Candy Store burger stuffed with bleu cheese and served on an english muffin is also a can't miss. There's a reason this is the most popular restaurant in Newport.
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Hosting my own conversation series has taught me just how tough interviewing really is. You can show up prepared with questions, but the real art is listening in the moment and finding the right follow-up on questions. As I’ve worked on perfecting my own style, there’s one interviewer I’ve always looked to: Stephen Sackur.
I was thrilled to have him as my guest on Lunch With Jamie this week. Fresh off of his nearly 20-year tenure on the BBC’s HARDTalk (what I think is the best interview program of all time), Stephen spoke to me about his next steps, and what he really thinks about the BBC axing the show. As someone who is always searching for the most unique and brilliant insight into today’s media and its relationship to truth, I consider this interview to be unmissable.
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Mario’s Peruvian with Mark Feuerstein; Meizhou Dongpo with Derek Cianfrance and Alex Orlovsky; The Benjamin Nina Patricof and Sawyer; Shake Shack and Osteria La Buca with Team Roofman; Benjamin x Animal Pop-Up with Lynette Howell-Taylor, Jordan Okun, Nick Grad, and Alex Orlovsky; Anajak Thai with Emma and Jens Grede and Genghis Cohen with Mark Feuerstein and Chris Bender.
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